Transmission operating mechanism



Jan. 27, 1953 E. R. PRICE TRANSMISSION OPERATING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 19. 1946 TR :0^ L M. E wS,

ArraRA/ey.

Jan. 27, 1953 E. R. PRICE 2,626,690

TRANSMISSION OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 19, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTR. 6A/2L. /D/Q/ce d BY /frroRA/e y.

Jan. 27, 1953 E. R. PRICE TRANSMISSION OPERATING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 19. 1946 INVENToR. EAR/ ,DR/c6. BY

/lrok/vey.

Jan. 27, 1953 E. R; PRICE 2,626,690

TRANSMISSION OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 19, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1N V EN TOR.

6,4m. A. QQ/C6. BY

-Abro/Whey.

Patented Jan. 27, 1953 TRANSMISSION OPERATING MECHANISM Earl R. Price, South Bend, Ind., assigner to Bendix Aviation Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a

corporation of Delaware Application January 19, 1946, Serial No. 642,240

This invention relates in general to the power vtransmission mechanism of an automotive vehicle and in particular to means for operating the change-speed transmission of said mechanism. Y

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide, in an automotive vehicle including a fluid coupling and a three speeds forward and reverse transmission, a simple mechanism, power operated in part, for operating said transmission, all of the settings thereof being effected by a manual operation of said mechanism if the driver desires to so operate the mechanism, and the second and high gear settings of the transmission, and the operation of the friction clutch to facilitate said settings, being effected by power means if the driver elects this operation of the mechanism.

Yet another object of my invention is to supplement the above described power means with an engine throttle controlling mechanism whereby said throttle is closed by said power means during the operation of the transmission and clutch.

A further object of my invention is to'provide, in an automotive vehicle including'a'fiuid coupling, a friction clutch and a three speeds forward and reverse transmission, means for operating and for facilitating the operation of said transmission including power means, comprising a single acting motor, which is automatically operable, after the accelerator is released, to establish the transmission either in its second gear setting or its high gear setting, depending upon the speedof the vehicle, the friction clutch being operated by said motor to facilitate this operation of the transmission, said first-mentioned means further including manuallyoperated means for effecting any one of the gear settings of the transmission. f

V Yet another object of my invention is to provide means for operating the friction clutch and the three speeds forward and reverse transmission of an automotive vehicle, said means including a single acting motor, the power element of which is operably connected to both the clutch and to means for effecting the second and high gear operations of the transmission, and further including manually operated means for effecting the low and Yreverse gear settings of the transi,

mission.

An important object of my invention is to pro- #vide apower plant for an automotive vehicle, the v'control of which requires but a minimum of physical mente-,1 @Hert @n thepart of the 15 Claims. (Cl. 192-.073)

driver; and to this end it is an object of my invention to provide, in a power plant including a friction clutch of standard design, a fluid coupling of standard design, a change gear transmission and an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve, manually and power operated mechanism for operating the throttle valve, clutch and the transmission, the controls for said mechanism being limited to the accelerator, a vehicle speed responsive governor, the clutch pedal, and the shift lever, the accelerator of said four controls receiving the greater use.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple mechanism for operating the friction clutch and three-speeds forward and reverse transmission of an automotive vehicle, the operation of said mechanism being controlled by a shift lever preferably positioned beneath the steering wheel of the vehicle, a vehicle speed responsive governor, the accelerator of the vehicle and the manually operated clutch pedal of the vehicle, the parts of said mechanism being so constructed and arranged Athat the transmission is manually operated to establish the mechanism in any one of its settings and furthermore so constructed and arranged that the transmission may be operated by power means to establish the same in either lits second gear setting or its high gear setting, the latter operations being facilitated by a power operation of the friction clutch.

Yet another and important object of my invention is to provide power and manually operated mechanism for operating a three-speeds forward and reverse transmission. the power means of said mechanism being operative to alternatelv effect the second and high vgear settings of the transmission and the manually operated means of said mechanism being selectively operative to establish the transmission in any one of its four settings. l

A further object of my invention is to provide manually and power operated mechanism for operating a friction clutch and a three-speeds forward and reverse transmission, said mechanism being in part controlled by a shift lever selectively movable to any one of seven positions in the control of the mechanism, one of said positions making possible thepower operation of the mechanism. l y y Yet another object ofhmy invention is to include, in a power and manually operated mechanism for operating a three-speeds forward and reverse transmission,v an alternator, that is, a

. mechanism .operative to successively move an operating rod of the mechanism in two diiferent directions whereby there is provided means, which may be operated by a single acting pressure differential operated motor, for successively establishing the transmission in two of its four gear settings.

A further object of my invention is to provide manually and power operated mechanism for operating a three-speeds forward and reverse transmission and a friction clutch, said mechanism being capable of effecting a manual operation of the transmission and also capable, after a selector lever of the mechanism is first operated to establish the transmission in its second gear setting and then positioned in a certain automatic setting, of effecting a power operation of the transmission to alternately effect the second and third forward speed settings thereof, the friction clutch being disengaged to facilitate each of said `operations and reengaged after each operation is completed.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide, in the power plant of an automotive vehicle, a power and manually operated friction clutch and three-speeds forward and reverse transmission operating mechanism, said mechanism being controlled by a vehicle speed responsive governor, a shift lever, the accelerator of the vehicle and the clutch pedal, said mechanism being manually operated, by an operation of the shift lever and clutch pedal, to selectively effect any one of the yaforementioned four settings of the transmission or its neutral setting and said mechanism being power operated, by an operation of the governor, the accelerator and the shift lever, to alternately establish the transmission in its second and third gear settings, the clutch being operated to facilitate said operations.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a single embodiment of the invention is illustrated.V Y

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of my invention disclosing the principal features thereof;

Figure 2 is a Wiring diagram of the electrical mechanism disclosed in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view disclosing details of the alternator unit of Figure 1;

Figure ,a is a sectional view of the alternator unit said view being taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the mechanism at the base of the steering column said mechanism serving to disconnect the shift lever from the power operated transmission operating linkage;

Figure 6 is a sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 7, disclosing certain features of the mechanism disclosed in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a front view, taken on the line of Figure 5, of the mechanism disclosed in Fisure 5;

Figure 8 is a sectional view disclosing details of the transmission operating cut out switch of the invention, said view being taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 9;

Figure 9 is a sectional View of the transmission operated cut out switch of my invention;

Figure 10 is a sectional view disclosing details of the governor operated switch of the invention;

Figure 11 is another sectional view of the switch mechanism |44 saidview being taken 'on the line i I-I I of Figure 9; and

Figure 12 is a plan view disclosing details of the switch mechanism |44.

Referring now to Figure l disclosing a preferred embodiment of my invention, a threespeeds forward and reverse transmission Ill of well-known design, is operated by means of a manually operated crank I2 and a manually and power operated crank I4, the crank I2 serving to operate the shift rail selecting mechanism 4of the transmission and the crank I4 serving to operate that part of the transmission functioning to move the selected rail to establish the transmission in the desired gear ratio. With such a transmission the crank i4 must 'be moved to its transmission neutral position to neutralize the transmission before the shift rail selecting crank I2 may be operated.

My invention has to do with the manually and power operated means for actuating the aforementioned transmission operating cranks I2 and i4; for operating the engine throttle IS, and for operating a conventional friction clutch, not shown, said clutch including the usual driving and driven plates forced into engagement by clutch springs. The aforementioned transmis- 4sion and the clutch `as well as the hereinafter referred to fluid coupling are of conventional design, accordingly, no claim is made thereto and the same are not disclosed in the drawings.

A .feature of my invention lies in the combination of a fluid coupling, such e. g. las that which lwas incorporated. in several 1941 and 1942 passenger vehicles, with the aforementioned mechanism which operates the aforementioned transmission, throttle and friction clutch; and said coupling, which is preferably incorporated in the power plant between the engine and thefriction clutch, includes, of course, an impeller and a varied rotor, the latter serving to drive the aforementioned driving plate of the clutch.

The frictionclutch is operably connected to a clutch throw out shaft I8 to which is keyed a crank member 2i] contactable by a flange member 22 extending laterally from a crank member 24 rotatably mounted on the shaft I8. The conventional `manually operated clutch pedal 26 of the car is operablyconnected, by a link 28, to a crank 35 which is drivably connected to the shaft IS. As is disclosed in Figure 1 the connection between the crank 3i) and link 23 is of the lost motion type to obviate a movement of the clutch pedal when the clutch is power operated by the mechanism described hereinafter.

Describing now the` essence of my invention, the same lies in thermanually and power operated mechanism for operating the clutch operating shaft I8. the transmission operating cranks I2 and I4 and the throttle yoperating mechanism, all of said mechanism being disclosed in Figure 1. The shift rail operating cranks I2 and I4 are actuated by force transmitting means including a rotatable and bodily movable shaft 32 extending alongside the steering column 34 of the vehicle. As is disclosed in Figures 1, 5 and 6, the shaft 32 is biased downwardly by a spring 36 positioned between a stop 3S mounted on the steering column and a crank member 40 which is operably connected to said shaft by means of a clutch mechanism d2 described hereinafter. A shift lever i3 mounted beneath thesteering wheel 45 is so connected to the shaft 32 that a rotation of said lever in a plane parallel to said wheel effects a rotation of said shaft about its longitudinal axis in the operation of either neutralizing the transmission or establishing the same in a gear setting; and this connection between the shift lever and shaft 32, which incidentally was used on a 1942 car, is also such that the cross-shift movement of the shift lever, that is, the movement in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the steering column, results in a movement of the shaft 32 to either effect a shift rail selecting operation of the crank I2 or effect a declutching operation of the clutch 42 and a closing of a selector switch 41 to prepare the mechanism for its power operation.

Describing the aforementioned clutch `mechanism 42, the said mechanism includes a member 44 sleeved over the lower end of the shaft 32, said member being permanently secured as by brazing to the crank 40. The lower end portion of the member 44 is provided with a flange 46 which is recessed at 48. Figure 5, to provide a keyway for a key portion 50 of a spool-shaped end portion of a clutch member 52, said member being sleeved over and drivably connected by splines 54 to the end portion 56 of the shaft 32. A nut 58. threaded on the end of the shaft portion 56, serves as a stop for the clutch mechanism which is biased downwardly by the operation of the spring 36.

The upper arm 60 of a bell-crank lever 62 fits within the spool shaped portion of the clutch member 52 and the lower arm 64 of said lever is pivotally connected, by a link 66, to the shift rail selecting crank I2. As is disclosed in Figure 6, the spring 36 serves to bias the clutch 42 and shaft 32 as a unit downwardly, the movement being limited by a stop B8, Figure 6, constituting a part of a steering column mounted bracket member and in this position of the clutch 42 the shift rail selector crank I2 is actuated to prepare the transmission for either a second gear or high gear operation, said operation of course depending upon the subsequent actuation of the shift rail operating crank I4. To actuate the crank I2 to prepare the transmission for either a low gear or reverse gear operation, that is a selection of the low and reverse gear shift rail of the transmission, the driver lifts the shift lever 43 upwardly in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the .steering wheel; and this operation serves to rotate the bell crank lever 62 in a counter-clockwise direction, Figure 5, the spring 36 being compressed and the flange 46, Figure 6,

being moved into engagement with the stop 68. To actuate the shift rail operating crank I4 to neutralize the transmission or establish the same in any one of its four gear ratio settings, the driver rotates the shift lever 43 in a plane parallel to the plane of the steering wheel thereby effecting an angular movement of the crank 40 which is preferably connected to the crank I4 by force transmitting means including link 12, a bell crank lever 14 and a link 16.

There is thus provided, by the above described mechanism, means for manually operating a three-speeds forward and reverse transmission; and in this manual operation of the transmission the shift lever 43 is movable to six different positions, said selectiveV movement outlining the letter H.

An important feature of my invention lies in the power means for operating the transmission and clutch and said means is diagrammatically ldisclosed'in Figure 1. The principal element of this power means consists of a single-acting fluid pressure motor 18 operably connectedv to the clutch throwout shaft I8 and to the shift rail operating crank I4; and said motor is controlled 6 by a standard type of solenoid operated three way valve 80, no claim to which is made.

Describing now the details of the aforementioned power means, the power element 82 of the motor 'I8 is connected to the crank 24 by a link 84; said crank is yieldingly connected to an alternator 86 by means, preferably including a pin 92 extending from the crank. One end of a spring 94, preferably coiled around the link 88, is connected to a pin 96 secured to said link; and the other end of said spring is fastened to the pin 92. A crank 98 of the alternator mechanism 86 is pivotally connected to the bell crank lever 14 by a link |00.

Describing now the details of the alternator 86, that is the direction changing mechanism of my invention, the same includes a casing |02, Figure 4, of two parts |04 and |06. To the casing part |06 there is detachably secured by bolts |08 a plate ||0 having a V-shaped guide slot ||2 therein, and a thrust member I|4 adjustably secured at ||6 to the link 88 and positioned between a strap I |8 and the outer face of the plate I I0 is provided with a laterally extending pin |20 which extends through the aforementioned V-shaped slot. To the outer end of a rotatable shaft |22 journalled in a boss |24 extending from the casing part |06 there is drivably connected the aforementioned crank 98, Figure l; and to the inner end of the shaft |22 there is drivably connected a bell crank lever |26. To one end of the latter lever there is pivotally connected a thrust link |28 which is recessed at its outer end to receive the pin |20; and to the other end of the lever |26 there is pivotally connected another thrust link |30 which is also recessed at its outer end to receive the pin |20; and the two thrust links are biased towards each other into contact with a guide roller |3| by a spring |32 connected to both of said links.

Describing the operation of the above described alternator 85, when the fluid pressure motor 18 is deenergized a return spring |34 therein together with the clutch springs, serve to move the link 88 and thrust member ||4 connected thereto to the left, Figure 3, to position the pin |20 Within a recess |36 constituting the apex of the aforementioned V-shaped guide slot H2; then when the motor 13 is energized to effect an operation on the transmission and clutch the pin |20, after moving a relatively short distance, rests Within the recessed end of one or the other of the thrust links |28 and |39, depending upon whether the transmission is at the time established in second gear or in high gear. Continued movement of the thrust member I I4 then results in a rotation of the lever |26 to rotate the crank 96 to establish the transmission in its netty setting; and as will be notedfrom an inspection of Figure 3 this operation of the lever 90 serves to move the then inoperative thrust link into position preparatory for its operation to rotate the lever |26. v

There is thus provided an alternator or direction changing means whereby the transmission operating angular movement of the crank I4 is alternately reversed with each successive energization of the single-acting motor 1G.

As to the means for controlling the operation of the moto-r 16, said means includes the electrical mechanism disclosed in Figures 1 and 2; and this mechanism comprises a grounded battery |38, the ignition switch |40 of the car, the aforementioned shift lever operated selector switch 41, an'accelerator operated breaker switch |42 whiohis :closed Whenthe accelerator is released, a shift railoperatedSwitch mechanism 751i, `a vehicle YSpeed responsive governor operated switch mechanism |45 and a grounded solenoid |43 which operates -t-he motor Acont-rolling three way valve ft. rThe aforementioned switch mechanisms are electrically interconnected as disclosed in Figure 2 :and of said mechanisms the accelerator operated Aswitch is Aof a conventional breaker switch construction; accordingly, the same is not disclosed in detail.

As to the rail'switch mechanism idd, which is vdisclosed in `Figures 8 and 9 vin its transmission neutral position, the same includes a two part casing `|52 having journalled therein a switch operating cam shaft |54; and said shaft is provided with an inclined dat '|53 andan oppositely inclined fla-t |58. A crank |55 is secured to the end of the shaft |56 and said crank is connected tothe shift rail/operating crank 74 by a link |57. A :switch terminal v|555! receives a hot wire |82, Figure v1, and to this terminal there is electri- Gally fconnected a movable switch member of electrical Y.conductive material and which is pivotally Aconnected at its to a post itil Vsecured to the inner face of rthe casing. Another inevable :switch member |7 electrically connected, by .a conductor IE7, Figure 12, to the terminal .|573 and positioned Yalongside the switch member |64, is pivotally lconnected to a post its extending inwardly from the casing; vand to said movable switch members itil and |76 there are se Vcuredfswitch contacts 1:72 and |73 respectively.

Torsion springs |74 and |74 serve to bias the switch members |54 and Hi! downwardly to move the aforementioned :switch conta-cts |72 and |73 into engagement with xed switch contacts |76 `and |87 which are mounted on supports secured to the switch casing, one of said supports being indicated by the reference numeral |73, Figure 8 and the other oi said supports being indicated bythe reference numeral ist, Figure 1l. The contacts li and |SI are electrically connected, by the aforementioned support members, to terminals I 75 and |77, Figure 9, which are wired, by wires |35 and |87 respectiveiy to the governor operated switch |133.

Describing the operation of the switch mechae nism |44, when the transmission operating crank Hi is rotated clockwise by the power means to establish the transmission in its second gear setting the switch operating crank |55 is also moved in a clockwise direction; and this operation serves to rotate the cam shaft |54 clockwise, Figure 8, to open the switch |73, |87 mounted alongside the switch |72, |76 said operation of the switch |73, |S| being eiected `iust as the second gear setting of the transmission is being completed. Now vit is to be noted from .an inspection or" Figures 8 and 11 that vwhen the switch mechanism Hifi is in its transmission neutral position that both of the aforementioned switches of said mechanism are closed; and for that matter said switches |72, |76 and |73, Il are both closed except when the transmission is established in either second gear or vhigh gear; for an inspection of the electrical circuits of Figure 2 will reveal that to insure the heretofore described shuttling operation of the motor 78, particularly the vacuum energization of said motor to complete its operation of disengaging the clutch and resetting the transmission, it is necessary to maintain both switches |72, |75 and |73, I8! closed until either the high or second `gear operation of the transmission is completed. When crank I4 is rotated counterclockwise ,to vestablish the transmission in its y:third ,gear setting 'the switch |72, :|116 is opened .the companion :switch |73, 'I3-l remaining closed; and as 'with .the above described operation of the `switch |73, 18| the opening of the switch '172, |716 is effected just as the high gear setting of 'the transmission is being completed.

Describing the governor operated switch mechanism |`4i, this mechanism includes a two `part casing Ii! housing a centrifugally operated governor `mechanism 78| lwhich is drivably connected to the propeller shaft of the vehicle or some 'other moving part of the power plant, the speed of which is directly proportional to the speed tof the vehicle. A thrust member |82 of the centrifugal mechanism .contacts Vthe central portion of .a movable switch'contact member |84 which 'is biased into engagement with a fixed contact |86 :by :a'spring ltd. `The parts of this switch mechanism are so constructed and arranged and .so operative that when the vehicle is at a standstill or is travelling at or below a relatively Vlow speed, for example 1'0 M. P. H., .then the spring |88 serves to move rthe movable .contact 'member i3d .into engagement with the .fixed contact 'i 8.6; and when the vehicle is travelling above governor speed, that is the aforementioned 1'0 M. P. then the centriugally operated mechanism 8| is operative to force the contact .|34 -into engagement with a xed contact member itil. 'Compieting the description vof the switch mechanism |45 the other end of the movable contact member te?, is electrically connected to a wire i555 which is connected to the soienoid |63.

Now the parts -of 'the shift rail'operated switch idd are .so operative and 'so cooperate with the governor Yoperated .switch M3 that an electrical circuit from the accelerator operated switch |42 to the solenoid M3 is completed when the transmission is established in one for 'the 'other or" its second or high gear settings the governor is operated to close one of the two switches operated thereby; for lit is to be remembered that the switches |72, |76 and |73, te! are both closed except when the transmission is established in either second gear or i igh gear the switch ifi, |75 being opened when the latter setting of the transmission is compieted and the switch i |3| being opened when the second gear setting of the transmission is completed. In other words, just as the second gear setting of the transmission is being completed, one of the switches of the mechanism Mii is broken, the other switch being at the time made to thereby prepare for a high gear operation of the mechanism of invention; then when the speed of the vehicie goes above governor speed, the motor 7e is again energized to effect the high gear setting of the transmission. It is to be remembered, however, that the above discussed electrical circuits are completed to effect an energ-ization of the motor 78 only when the accelerator is released to close the switch MZ.

As an additional feature or" my invention there is provided mechanism for insuring a closure of the yengine throttle |94 as the motor 73 is operating to actuate the transmission and ciutch; for if such a mechanism were not provided, then a depression of the acceierator prior to a completion 'of the operation of the transmission and clutch would, 'by virtue of 'the opening of the switch i652, prevent the completion of these cp erationjs.l Furthermore, such adepression of the accelerator would result 'in an undesirable 9, racing of the engine while said operations were being effected. Accordingly, the power means of my invention preferably includes a singleacting fluid pressure motor |96 having its power element operably connected witha throttle operating crank |98 by means of a link 288, said link being provided with a slotted end portion through which extends a pin 262 secured to said crank. Through a boss 264 secured to the crank |88 there extends a rod 286 connected to the accelerator 288 of the vehicle, a compression spring 2 l 6 being interposed between said boss and a stop 2|2 secured to the end of said rod. The accelerator operated switch |42 is actuated by a crank 2|4 which is operably connected to the pin 262 by a link 2|6; and the throttle operating crank |28 is biased to its throttle closed position by a spring, not shown.

Describing the operation of the above described throttle operating mechanism, when the accelerator is released, the switch |42 is closed to make possible the above described power operation of the mechanism of my invention; and with this operation the motor |96 is energized to maintain the crank |98 in its throttle closed position despite a depression ofthe accelerator during said operation; for if said accelerator is so operated, then the spring 2|@ is further compressed.

At this juncture it is to be noted that the transmission and clutch operating fluid motor 18 and the throttle operating fluid motor |96 are both disclosed as being vacuum operated; however, said motors may, if desired, be energized by any other suitable power medium. The three way valve 86 of the motor 'I8 of Figure 1 is connected by a conduit 2|8 to the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine of the vehicle, said manifold providing a convenient source of vacuum when the engine'is idling; and to a duct 228, interconnecting the valve 80 with the motor 'i8 there is connected a conduit 222. which is connected to the throttle operatingmotor |56. It is apparent, therefore, that the valve 80 serves to control both of the motors '|8 and |96, said motors being operated at the same time.

Describing now the complete operation of the mechanism of my invention, and incidentally completing the description of the parts of said mechanisms not heretofore described, it will be assumed that the three-speeds forward and reverse transmission I 0 is neutralized and that the car ,is at a standstill with the engine idling, thereby making of the intake manifold of said engine a source of vacuum. The driver will then probably Wish to establish the transmission in its low gear setting whereupon he will first manually depress the clutch pedal 26 to disengage the clutch and will then operate the shift lever 43 to manually effect said setting. The accelerator will then be depressed as the clutch is rreengaged to get the car under way; and after the desired car speed is reached, the shift lever and clutch pedal are again operated to establish the transmission in its second gear setting. The car being then under way in vsecond gear at the desired speed, the driver will probably wish to be relieved of the'operation of the transmission and clutch; acccrdingly,"to effect this result he will manually disengage the clutch and then move the shift lever to its automatic position, that is, one of the seven selective positions of said lever. Describing the latter opera-tion the shift lever 43, which at the time isin its second gear setting, is rotated (.iilvllwardlyA that is angularly in aclockwise di- 10 rection in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the steering wheel; and this operation serves to bodily move the shaft 32 downwardly until a movable contact member 224, Figure 5, of the selector switch 41 is in contact with a fixed contact 226 of said switch to close the same. This operation constitutes a declutching operation for the clutch mechanism 42, the clutch member 52 moving away from the clutch member 44 the movement of the latter being prevented by the stop 68.

Referring to Figures 5 and 7 there is disclosed a latch mechanism for holding the shift lever in its automatic position, said mechanism including a relatively narrow rectangular shaped support member 228 preferably detachably secured to the bracket member 'I6 by a bolt 236; and there is mounted on said support member, by means of a guide pin 232, a bolt 234 and a spring 236, a movable latch member 238 shaped at its outer end -to provide a relatively narrow stop member 246. Now when the shift lever 43 is moved to its automatic position a relatively narrow wedgeshaped iiange portion 242 of the member 238 is rocked and/or bodily lifted, against the tension of the spring 236, by the camming action of a wedge-shaped peripheral edge portion 244 of a stop member 246'which is secured to the pin 56, Figure 6, between the lower flange portion of the clutch member 52 and the nut 58; and this operation serves to position said peripheral edge portion 244 in the space indicated by the reference numeral 248 Figure 5. Incidently the shift rail selecting mechanism of the transmission and the 'cooperating transmission parts are so constructed that the crank 62 may be moved beyond its second and high shift rail selective position in effecting the above described automatic setting of the shift lever.

Now at this juncture it is to be noted, from an inspection of Figure 7, that a rectangular shaped stop member 25D, secured to the outer face of the stop member 246 by screws 252, is in contact with the member 246 when the parts are in their transmission neutral position and when the spring 36 has operated to move the crank |2 to its second and high shift rail position, that is the position preparing the transmission for either second or high gear operation. It follows therefore that .the stop member 246 must be rotated clockwise 1n Figure 7 so that the member 256 will clear the member 246 before the shift lever may be moved downwardly to its automatic position, that is, the position to clo-se the switch 41; and it becomes apparent from the above description that the parts of the mechanism are so constructed and arranged that this automatic setting of the shift lever may only be effected after said shift lever has been moved to establish the transmission in its second gear setting. Referring to Figure 7 of the drawings in this position of the parts, that is the second gear setting, a stop 254 on the member 246 will contact the side of the members 228 and 238 and the stop member 258 will be positioned to the right of the member 246. Completing the description of the member 246 a stop 256 is provided thereon to contact one side of the members 228 and 238 when the shift lever is moved to either its low or high gear position.

Continuing the description of the operation of the mechanism the driver having moved the shift lever to its automatic position and assuming that the car is travelling above governor speed to close the switch |84, |96, Figure 10, the transmission will then be automatically established in its high gear setting after the driver releases the accelerator to close the switch |42; for with this operation an electrical circuit is completed via the grounded battery |38, the ignition switch lflil'the then closed selector switch 41 the then closed accelerator operated switch |42, the switch |12, |16 of the rail `switch |44, the switch 85, |30 of the governor operated switch me and the grounded solenoid |48. The resulting operation of the three way valve |511 effects an energization of the motors |96 and 'i8 the piston 82 of the latter being then subjected to a differential of pressures to move the same to the right, Figure 1. The left side of the piston 32 is at all times subjected to the pressure of the katmosphere Via an opening 258 in. one end of the motor and the right side of said piston, that is, the side constituting a wall of compartment 2%, is subjected to a relatively low gaseous pressure when the three way valve ll) is o-pened to interconnect said compartment with the intake manif-old or other source of vacuum. When the latter valve is closed, that is, when the solenoid Ille is deenergized, the compartment 2S@ is Vented to the atmosphere through said valve and the spring |34 within said compartment is then operative to move the piston 82 to the left, Figure 1, to permit a reengagement of the friction clutch?.

Describing the clutch disengaging and transmission operating operatiOn of the motor 'i8 the .above referred to rightward movement of the pistonV 82 serves to rotate the crank 25 to disengage the clutch; and as this operation is being effected. the spring 9d is expanded inasmuch as the rod 88 cannot be moved to operate the transmission until after the driving torque is reversed, that is, until after the clutch is disengaged. Now immediately after the clutch plates are moved out of contact with each other to reverse the driving torque the above described force transmitting means interconnecting t-he rod 88 and crank I@ becomes operative to move said crank and establish the transmission in its high gear setting; and as this oper-ation of the transmission is being completed the rail switch |44 becomes operative to break the switch |12, llt. Now the breaking of the switch |72, |75 results in a deenergization of the solenoid |48 and as described above this results in a deenergization of the :motors 13 and |96 to permit a reengagement of the clutch and .an opening of the throttle. At this juncture it is to be remembered that when the alternator 8G is operated in the operation of establishing the transmission in its high gear setting, said alternator is. operated immediately thereafter to preselect a Subsequent operation of thel transmission to establish the same in its second gear setting; incidently Figure 3 discloses the parts of the alternator in their high gear setting.

Now as described above during this power operation of the mechanism in establishing the transmission in its high gear setting the throttle IS is held closed by the then energized motor I9@ thereby preventing a racing of the engine.

The transmission will now remain in its high gear setting until the car is slowed down below governor speed and the accelerator is released whereupon the motors I8 and IQB will again be energized to. establish the transmission in its second gear setting and to operate the clutch and throttle to facilitate said operation. If the car is then brought to a stop without neutralizing the transmission, that is leaving the shift lever in its automatic setting, the operation of 12 the fluid coupling ofthe power plant will volaviate a stalling of the engine despite the relatively high gear ratio setting of the transmission and despite the fact that the idling engine is at the time directly connected to the then stationary propeller shaft of the vehicle.

There is thus provided a simple, effective andI efficient manually and power operated mechanism for operating the transmission, clutch and throttle of an automotive vehicle; and the clutch pedal, the shift lever and the accelerator constitue the only manually operated controls of Asaid mechanism. With the mechanism of my invention the driver maymanually operate the 'clutch and the three speeds forward and reverse trans-L mission in a conventional manner, that is, by operating the clutch pedal and by eifecting the H movement of the shift lever; then if he `desires an automatic operation of the transmission to alternately establish the same in its second and high gear settings he has only to movefthe shift lever from its second gear setting to its automatic setting. Thereafter for all normal straight ahead driving of the vehicle the driver need only operate the accelerator. However, if the car becomes mired he probably will, after a manuall disengagement of the clutch, operate the shift lever to establish the transmission in its low' gear setting; and to reversev the direction of movement of the car the driver must, of' course, first manually disengage the clutch and then operate the shift lever` to establish the transmission inv its reverse gear setting.

If a second gear setting of the transmission is desired when the transmission is establishedV in its high gear setting andthe shift lever isA positioned in its automatic setting, then the driverY will, after manually disengaging the clutch, first move the shift lever out of its automatic setting whereupon he will successively rotate the shift lever t-o its high gear position to mesh the clutch members 44 and 52 and then rotate said lever to its second gear position.

I claim:

1. In an automotive vehicle provided with a three speeds forward .andy reverse transmission,..a friction clutch, an accelerator, a clutch pedaL a steering column, a gear shift lever and a vehicle speed responsive governor; manually and' power operated means for operating the clutchiand transmission comprising two` cranks extending from the casing of the transmission, one of said,`

cranks serving to operate mechanism withinrthe, transmission which selectsvone or the other of two shift rails of the transmission and the other of said cranks servingl to operate mechanismr` within the transmission which moves the selected rail to either neutralize the, transmissionor es,- tablish the same in any one of its four` settings;

force transmitting means, including a shift leverA controlled clutch mechanism mounted at the base of the steering column, interconnecting the gear nately establish the transmission in either its.y

second gear setting or its high gear setting, said, power means including an accelerator operated switch mechanism and a governor operated switch mechanism.

2. n an automotive vehicle-provided with a three speeds forward and reverse transmission,v a,

fri-ction clutch, an accelerator, a gear shift leverand a vehicle speed responsive governor; power and manually operated mechanism for operating the transmission and also operating the clutch to facilitate an operation of the transmission, said mechanism including two cranks extending from the casing of the transmission, one of said cranks serving to operate mechanism within the transmission casing which selects one or the other of the two shift rails of the transmission and the other of said cranks serving to operate mechanism within the transmission which moves the selected rail to either neutralize the transmission or establish the same in any one of its settings, force transmitting means interconnecting the shift lever and cranks and serving to actuate said cranks to effect a manual operation of the transmission, together with transmission and clutch operating power means including a single acting pressure differential operated motor, means for controlling the operation of said motor including valve means, and electrical means for controlling thek operation of said valve means including an accelerator operatedswitch and a governor operated switch, said motor being operatively connected with a part of the .force transmitting means and with the clutch and serving to alternately effect the secondY and high gear operations of the transmission and to effect the aforementioned operation of the clutch.

3. In an automotive vehicle provided with a three speeds forward and reverse transmission, a throttle, a shift lever, a vehicle speed responsive governor and a, friction clutch; manually and power operated mechanism for operating the transmission and for operating the clutch and throttle to facilitate the operation of the transmission, said mechanism including forcertransmitting means interconnecting the shift lever and transmission and serving to effect a manual operation of the transmission by the operation of moving the shift lever to six of its selective positions, said mechanism further including a pressure differential operated motor and means for controlling the'operation of said motor comprising power means, including an accelerator operated `switch mechanism, a governor operated switch mechanism and a shift lever operated switch mechanism, for alternately effecting the second and high gear operations of the transmission, for disengaging the clutch prior to ea-ch of the latter operations of the transmission and then effecting a reengagement of the clutch after the operation of the transmission is completed and for maintaining the throttle closed as the transmission is being operated.

4. Transmission and clutch operating mechanism for an automotive vehicle comprising a three speeds forward and reverse transmission and a clutch operating shaft, a crank extending from the casing of the transmission and operable to select one or the otherv of two shift rails ofthe transmission, another crank-also extending from vthe casing of the transmission and operable to neutralizethe transmission and to establish the same `in any one of its four settings, a shift lever mounted beneath the steering wheel of the vehicle and selectively movable ,to any one of seven positions in the operation of the mechanism six of said operations being effected by the physical effort of the driver and the remaining, that is seventh, operation serving to prepare the mechanism for a power operationof the clutch and transmission, force transmitting means intercon- V necting the aforementionedcranks and the shift lever-said meansincluding clutch means operable,

when the shift lever is movedv to the aforementioned seventh position, to disconnect the shift lever from that part of the force transmitting means which is power operated, and power means automatically operative, after the shift `lever is moved to the latter position, to alternately establish the transmission in two of the aforementioned gear settings and to operate the clutch to facilitate said operation of the transmission.

5. Transmission and clutch operating mechanism for an automotive vehicle comprising a three speeds forward and reverse transmission and a friction clutch, a crank extending from the casing of the transmission and operable to select one or the other of two shift rails of the transmission, another crank also extending from the casing of the transmission andv operable to neutralize the transmission and to establish the same in any one of its four settings, a shift lever mounted beneath the steering wheel of the vehicle and selectively movable to any one of seven positions in the operation of the mechanism, six of said operations being effected by the physical effort of the driver and the remaining, that is seventh, operation serving to prepare the mechanism for a power operation of the clutch and transmission, force transmitting means interconnecting the aforementioned cranks and the shift lever said means including clutch means operable, when the shift lever is moved to the aforementioned seventh position, to disconnect the shift lever from that part of the force transmitting means which is power operated, and power means including an electrical switch which is closedl when the shift lever is moved to the latter position, said power means being operative to alternately establish the transmission in two of the aforementioned forward gear settings and to operate the friction clutch to facilitate said operation of the transmission.

6. Force transmitting means for interconnecting the shift lever of an automotive vehicle with a shift railv selecting crank and a shift railing operating crank extending from the casing of a three speeds forward and reverse transmission of said vehicle; said, force transmitting means including a rotatable and axially movable shaft operably connected to the shift lever, a clutch member drivably connected to the lower end of said shaft, force transmitting means interconnecting said clutch member with the shift rail selecting crank,l another clutch member adapted to be detachably connected to the first-mentioned clutch member and rotatably mounted on said rotatable and axially movable shaft, a crank connected to the latter clutch member, force transmitting means interconnecting the latter crank with the shift rail operating crank, a stop member, means for biasing the first-mentioned shaft and clutchv members downwardly, the movement of one of said clutch members being limited by said stop member, latch means for limiting the downward movement of the other of said clutch.

members when the shift lever is moved to one of its selective positions andr means for making the latter downward movement possible when and only when said clutch members are rotated to a certain angular position whereby there is provided a mechanism making possible three selective positions of the shift lever as the same is moved in two planes perpendicular to the steerplant comprising a friction clutch, athree speeds' forward? andi reverse change-speed transmission and ank internalcombustion engine having a,

throttle valve; manuallyl and power operated mechanism for operating the throttle valve, the clutch and the transmission including a singleacting pressure differential operated motor for operating both the clutch and the transmission, the latter bei-ng power operated to establish the same in its second and third gear ratio settings and the clutch being operated to facilitate theA operation of the transmission, a pressure differentialoperated motor for operating the throttleA to maintain the same closed as the transmission is being operated by the aforementioned motor, manually operated force transmitting means for establishing the transmission in any one of its settings, power operated force transmitting means interconnecting the manually operated forcev transmitting means with the first mentioned motor and means for controlling the operation of the aforementioned mechanism including the accelerator of the vehicle, a manually operated clutch pedal anda manually operated gear shift lever.

8; In an automotive vehicle having a power plant comprising a fluid coupling, a friction clutch; a change-speed transmission and an internal-combustion engine having a throttle valve.; manually and power operated mechanism for operating the throttle valve, the clutch and the transmission including a motor for operating the throttle valve to maintain the same closed as the transmission isbeing operated, a single-acting pressure differentialv operatedY motor for operatin'gboth theA clutch and the transmission, the latter! being power operated to establish the same in two of its relatively high gear ratio settings, said operation being facilitated by the operation of the fluid coupling, force transmittingv manually operatedA means-fori establishing the transmission-many one of its settings, power operated force transmitting means interconnecting. the manually operated'force'transmitting meanswith thesecondmentioned motor and means for controlling the operation of the aforementioned mechanism including the accelerator of th'e vehicle, amanually operated clutch" pedal and a manually operated gearY shift lever.

9.,'In an. automotive vehicle provided with a power-plant including a friction clutch,fachange' speedtransmission` and aninternal combustionv engine having a throttle valve; maually and power operated mechanism for operating the clutch, the transmission and the throttle valve, said means including manually operable means for establishing the transmission in any one ofits settings, a motor for operating the throttle valve to maintain thesame closed as the transmission is being operated, a-single-acting motor andmean's interconnecting said motor. with thel rnaruiallyA operable means` and the clutch for effecting a sequential operation of the clutch and transmission, the .operation of the'` latter serv'ingto' establish the samein one or the other of 'two relatively high gear ratio settings, and means for controlling the operation of the mechanism set forth above; said control means including the accelerator of the vehicle, a manually operated clutchpedal, a vehicle speed responsive governor anda gear shift lever the clutchpedal and gear shift lever serving as part of the means for effecting a manual operation of the mechanism.

10. In an automotive'vehicle provided with a power plant including aV friction clutch, a'changespeed transmissionand` an internal combustion engine having a throttle` valve; manually' and power operated mechanism for operating the clutch, the transmission' and the throttle valve the latter being closed when the transmission is being power operated, said means including force transmitting means which may be manually operated to establish the transmission in anyone of its settings, a single-acting motor for opera-ting the throttle valve, a transmission and clutch operating single-acting motor, force transmitting meansVr interconnecting said latter motor with the aforementioned force transmitting means and the clutch said force transmitting means being operable to effect asequential operation of the clutch and-transmission the operation of the latter serving to establish the same in one or the other of two relatively high gear ratio settings, and means for controlling the operation of the mechanism set forth above said control means including the accelerator of the vehicle, amanually operated clutchpedal, a Vehicle speed responsive governor and a gearV shift lever selectivelyv movable' to any one of seven control positions the clutch pedal andgear shift lever serving as part of the means for effecting a manual operation of the mechanism and the accelerator and governor serving as! part of the means for effectinga poweroperation of the mechanism.

ll. In an automotive vehicle provided with a power plant comprising a friction clutch, a change speed transmission and an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve; manually and power operated mechanism for operating the clutch, the transmission and the throttle valve the latter being closed when the transmission is being power operated, said means including a single-acting pressure differentiall operated motor operably connected to the transmission and clutch by means which serves to operate the clutch in timed relation to a certainoperation of the transmission, a motor for operating. the throttle valve to facilitate the aforementioned power operation of the transmission and clutch, manually operated force transmitting means for effecting the operation of the transmission and means for controlling the operation of the mechanism' set forth above, said control means including the accelerator of the vehicle, a vehicle speed responsive governona manually operated clutch pedal and a gear shift lever the clutch pedal and gear shift lever serving as part of the means for effecting a manual operation of the mechanism and the acceleratorv and governor serving as part of the means for effectingal power operation of the mechanism.

12. In an automotive Vehicle provided with a power plant comprising a friction clutch, a change speed transmission and an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve; manually and power operated meansfor operating the clutch, the transmission and the throttle valve the latter being closed when the transmission is being power operated, said means including a single-acting pressure differential operated motor'operably connected to the transmission and clutch by means including a spring said latter means serving to operate the clutch-in timed relation to certain power operations of the transmission, a motor for operating the throttle valve in av certain timed relation to the aforementioned power operation of the transmission and clutch, manually operated means, including force trans- Knitting' means mounted on the steering post of the vehicle, for effecting an operation of the transmission and means, including electrical means, for controlling the operation of the mechanism set forth above, said control means including the accelerator of the vehicle, a vehicle speed responsive governor, a manually operated clutch pedal and a gear shift lever the clutch pedal and gear shift lever serving as part of the means for effecting a manual operation of the mechanism and the accelerator and governor serving as part of the means for effecting a power operation of the mechanism.

13. The combination with a friction clutch and a change speed transmission capable of being established in any one of three forward gear settings, a reverse gear setting or a neutral setting; of transmission and clutch operating mechanism including two cranks extending from the casing of the transmission one of said cranks when operated serving to effect a shift rail selecting operation of the transmission, the other of said cranks serving when actuated to effect any one of the settings of the transmission, a pressure differential operated motor operably connected to the friction clutch and to the last mentioned crank and serving to effect a power operation of said crank to effect either a high gear operation or a second gear operation of the transmission, the clutch being operated incidental to the latter operation of the transmission to facilitae said operaions, valve means for controlling the operation of said motor, electrical means, including an accelerator operated switch, a shift lever operated switch and a governor operated switch, for controlling the operation of said valve means, and manually operated means, including a selector lever movable to seven different control positions, for in part controlling the operation of the mechanism.

14. In an automotive vehicle provided with a change speed transmission, a friction clutch, an accelerator, and a vehicle speed responsive governor; manually and power operated means for operating the clutch and transmission comprising force transmitting means interconnecting the gear shift lever with the transmission. and power means, supplementing the operation of the force transmitting means, and operative to effect a power operation of the clutch and an operation of the transmission to alternately establish the same in one or the other of two settings, said power means including a pressure differential operated motor having its power element connected to the clutch and to the transmission operating force transmitting means, means for controlling the operation of the motor including valve means, and means for controlling the operation of said valve means including an accelerator operated switch, a governor operated switch mechanism, and a switch mechanism actuated by the motor, the latter switch mechanism being operative, just as the operation of the transmission is being completed, to make possible a de-energization of the motor.

15. In an automotive vehicle provided with a change speed transmission and a gear shift lever; manually and power operated means for operating the transmission comprising force transmitting means, including a clutch mechanism, interconnecting the gear shift lever with the transmission, and power means, supplementing the operation of the force transmitting means, and operative to effect a power operation of the transmission to alternately establish the same in one or the other of two settings, said power means including a pressure differential operated motor having its power element connected to the force transmitting means, and means for controlling the operation of the motor including a gear shift lever operated switch operable, when the shift lever is placed in a certain position, to render the power means operative, the aforementioned clutch mechanism then serving to disconnect the shift lever from a part of the force transmitting means whereby the gear shift lever is immobile when the power means is operative to oprate the clutch and transmission.

EARL R. PRICE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 922,316 McNally May 18, 1909 2,109,443 Hill et al. Feb. 22, 1938 2,169,216 Bloxsom Aug. 15, 1939 2,187,824 Britton Jan. 23, 1940 2,212,282 Van Buskirk Aug. 20, 1940 2,280,002 Neracher Apr. 14, 1942 2,287,272 Price et al June 23, 1942 2,296,290 Mayrath Sept. 22, 1942 2,348,435 Hey et al. May 9, 1944 2,380,677 Schjolin July 31, 1945 2,434,717 Randol Jan. 20, 1148 

